Carazzo plays down Murphy fears

Marc Murphy does not take part in full training the day before a game. Photo: Paul Rovere PTR

MARC Murphy has sat out of main training with Carlton, but his team-mate Andrew Carrazzo has dismissed fears that the talented midfielder is injured.

Murphy trained with injured players, including Jeremy Laidler, doing some light running and handball drills.But Carrazzo said that was not unusual.

"Murph’s done that for the last two years. He just doesn’t train the day before the game," Carrazzo said.

"He has a good hit out, two days before. It’s just his schedule, that’s how his body responds the best, so Murph is fine and fighting fit."

Carrazzo said Murphy was not getting any special treatment and that his modified program was in line with modern player management.

"I had most of yesterday off and he was in here doing his work then, so it’s just what works best for him. That’s the way footy clubs are now, they individualise everything."

Despite missing key defenders, Michael Jamison, Jeremy Laidler and Nick Duigan, Carrazzo was quitely confident that the Blues could topple the in form Tigers, who have been tipped as a top-four finishers this year.

"We have got good depth, to think that we have Paul Bower and Bret Thornton who can play back, and Lachie Henderson showed what he can do in the backline last year.

"Obviously we would like to have Jamo [Michael Jamison] and those other guys there, but we have got complete confidence in the group back there that they can hold it down."